Steelers Are Expected to Trade Up for a Rising Quarterback, Per Mock Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 NFL offseason has been more intriguing in recent days.
They were the first club in the league to make moves the day following the Super Bowl.
To free up salary space, they let go of Mitch Trubisky and three other former starters.
Since then, they have been closely associated with quarterbacks that are available this summer around the league.
In some strange way, they have emerged as the frontrunner to sign both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, and Kirk Cousins is “keeping an eye” on them.
They still have the option to select a quarterback in the draft.
In a mock draft made public by FanDuel on February 13, it was projected that the Steelers will strike a deal with the Indianapolis Colts to advance to pick 15 and choose former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy’s Increasing Draft Value
Although McCarthy hasn’t been able to play for football fans since the conclusion of the collegiate football season, his draft value has suddenly increased.
Before, there appeared to be a possibility that the Steelers might be able to choose McCarthy with pick 20.
The Vikings are now favored to choose him with choice number eleven.
Destin Adams of AtoZ Sports claims that he is even listed as the QB2 on the draft board of one NFC team.
The most obvious explanation is that, with the NFL season being concluded, scouts and experts have had more time to examine McCarthy as a potential. The Vikings are now favored to choose him with choice number eleven.
Destin Adams of AtoZ Sports claims that he is even listed as the QB2 on the draft board of one NFC team.
The most obvious explanation is that, with the NFL season being concluded, scouts and experts have had more time to examine McCarthy as a potential. The Vikings are now favored to choose him with choice number eleven.
Destin Adams of AtoZ Sports claims that he is even listed as the QB2 on the draft board of one NFC team.
The most obvious explanation is that, with the NFL season being concluded, scouts and experts have had more time to examine McCarthy as a potential. The Vikings are now favored to choose him with choice number eleven.
Destin Adams of AtoZ Sports claims that he is even listed as the QB2 on the draft board of one NFC team.
The most obvious explanation is that, with the NFL season being concluded, scouts and experts have had more time to examine McCarthy as a potential. The Vikings are now favored to choose him with choice number eleven.
Destin Adams of AtoZ Sports claims that he is even listed as the QB2 on the draft board of one NFC team.
The most obvious explanation is that, with the NFL season being concluded, scouts and experts have had more time to examine McCarthy as a potential.
In contrast to his opponents in this year’s quarterback class, McCarthy’s collegiate career was not marked by spectacular stats.
On the other hand, some of his more sophisticated data indicate that he was a proficient thrower when moving and on third and fourth downs.
Early in the draft season, McCarthy’s advanced numbers, arm strength, and capacity for high-level success have begun to spark interest.
Few NFL clubs have a more intricate quarterback situation than the Steelers have at the moment.
Two years ago, they acquired a quarterback with a first-round pick.
Sadly, that quarterback hasn’t performed well. They haven’t been able to pick a quarterback with a greater chance of succeeding in the NFL, but they have still been able to win enough games with that one.
They cannot afford to invest more late first money on a quarterback that raises doubts. They could attempt to bring in a veteran, but few would genuinely be an improvement, and those that do come with a hefty price tag or their own set of doubts.
The Steelers are thus left without a clear solution for how to get strong quarterback play in the long run, even though they most likely recognize that improving the quarterback position is necessary for the club to advance.
If Kenny Pickett doesn’t improve on the bench, Cousins may end up declining quickly, which would put them back in the same dilemma even if he appears to be their best option until 2024.
It could be a good idea for the Steelers to make sure they select their quarterback of choice if they are confident about a potential they see in this year’s selection; nevertheless, they cannot afford to make a mistake again.
McCarthy may be that player for the Steelers, but they would need to trade up to get him.
John Vaccaro is an NFL reporter for Heavy.com, where he mostly covers the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has worked as an editor and writer for BroBible and FanSided, covering the NFL, NBA, MMA, and college sports in the past. A bit more about John Vaccaro
Leave a Reply